Investigating the appearance of bizarrely mutilated Barbie dolls throughout Las Vegas, amateur detective Temple Barr, assisted by feline companion Midnight Louie, agrees to go undercover on a reality TV show among a horde of ruthless teen blondes, one of whom appears willing to kill in order to secure her victory. 30,000 first printing.

Product description

Review

"Temple Barr, public relations whiz, rocks Las Vegas with her wacky friends and enemies, fast-paced action, and laughs!"- New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich on the Midnight Louie series "This feisty feline detective is fast gaining a reputation of being one of America's top investigators...If either Mike Hammer or Columbo had a cat, it would be Midnight Louie."-Cat Fancy on the Midnight Louie series "A furry Sam Spade."--People on the Midnight Louie series "If Midnight Louie prowled only the predictable streets of genre fiction, all the murders in his ersatz world would be resolved. But each new installment in this exuberant series compounds the complexity, leaving us between books with mysterious bodies and looming menace."-Kirkus Reviews on the Midnight Louie series "Midnight Louie defies critical comment. To some cat fanciers, he is as tasty as a fresh bowl of Fancy Feast."-Booklist on the Midnight Louie series "A new Midnight Louie book is pure reading catnip... the irresistibly witty Louie [is] a legendary sleuth who ranks right up with the greats-Travis McGee in fur!"-Romantic Times on the Midnight Louie series "Those readers who follow Lillian Jackson Braun's Cat Who series will love Midnight Louie!"--VOYA on the Midnight Louie series "It is always a joy to be reunited with that adorable tomcat, Midnight Louie, whose thoughts, deeds, and devotion make the feline seem more human than most Homo sapiens."-Affaire de Coeur on the Midnight Louie series

About the Author

CAROLE NELSON DOUGLAS is the author of the bestselling Midnight Louie series, which includes Cat in a Neon Nightmare, Cat in a Midnight Choir, Cat In a Leopard Spot, and many more. She is also the author of the historical suspense series featuring Irene Adler, the only woman ever to have "outwitted" Sherlock Holmes. She resides in Fort Worth, Texas.

Customer reviews

Amazon calculates a product’s star ratings using a machine learned model instead of a raw data average. The machine learned model takes into account factors including: the age of a review, helpfulness votes by customers and whether the reviews are from verified purchases.

Review this product

Top international reviews

Glenda

5.0 out of 5 starsRicki Loves This Book! And Midnight Louie!

Reviewed in the United States on 29 September 2006

Verified Purchase

So, Anyway, I was about to tell you about Midnight Louie's latest Caper! Let me first tell you that he, too, has a companion. Her name is Temple and she is one cool lady! She is a PR guru, but for some reason, she's always getting mixed up in something mysterious, dangerous...

This time, in the Hot Pink Pursuit, she was "bargained" into entering a teen queen contest. Geesh! Duh, she's, like, 30...but because she is so small and beautiful, she was able to pass for 19.

Now, why would this major professional lady want to do this? Why, for a man of course! You see, she's involved with a magician, Max--what a hunk!

Max is being pursued by the police; specifically, a policewoman named Molina.

Molina has a beautiful young daughter, named Mariah, who, without getting prior permission, entered the Tween contest, and was accepted!

So, here's the deal, Molina bargains with Barr to enter the contest so that she can guard and protect Mariah...and, in return, Molina will lay off of Max!

Sooooooo, you got it, the deal was made. Enter Xoe Chloe, pronounced Zo-ee Chlo-ee, with a Cher long black wig and "goth" makeup and "big" attitude. She and Mariah, backed by Molina's money, splurge on a wardrobe worthy of queen contestants, and fortunately wind up as roommates at the contest location.

Of course, my Midnight Louie sneaks along to protect them...because there is murder, no less! And he's on a hot pursuit of the killer!

Of course, an added benefit for him was being near Yvette and Solange, silver and golden persians that are soooo not worthy of Midnight Louie...You might know that they would be there too!

Meanwhile, another of Temple's love interests, er, I mean friends, Matt is on a hot pursuit of his own. At the stubborn insistence of his mother, he's tracking down information on his father, who is supposed to have died many years ago. The face-to-face meet with his father in a hallway as both men wait for an elevator is a cool scene!

And, wonder of wonders, Matt seems to have gained much needed confidence through this wild experience...for he later moves boldly in pursuit of Temple! Did I tell you that Max has been around, searching for Temple, not knowing that she is off "saving him" from Molina...

As always, this is a cool whodunit by Carole Nelson Douglas and somehow Midnight Louie figures it out (he's been tracking the pink fruit smoothie smell on suspects' shoes!) about the same time Xoe Chloe does!

So Midnight Louie is back at home, stretching his long black beautiful body on the couch when his companion Temple comes home with....Matt???

Now What?! Can't wait to read the next in this fantastic series! And, Oh! I'd just love to meet the super-star, Louie!

Temple's petite stature and youthful looks work in her favor for a change, as, at Lieutenant Molina's behest, she enters a Teen Idol contest--a reality show. Molina's daughter Mariah entered behind her mom's back, and there've been some creepy threats targeting the show, so Molina wants someone close by to keep an eye on Mariah. In exchange, she promises to lay off on her investigations of Max.

Meanwhile, Matt Devine is off to Chicago at his mother's request, to find out information about his biological father's family, and Max is back undercover again.

There's a theme in this book of family and connections--Molina struggles as a single mother of an adolescent, Temple ends up bonding with Mariah and--horrors!--understanding Molina, and mentoring Mariah.

Mariah's unsuspecting (and unsuspected--by Mariah, at least) biological father is at the show as a bodyguard, and there's some tension there as those in the know try to keep him and Mariah apart and Molina worries about whether, when, and how she should tell the two about each other.

And Matt's search for his relatives leads him to his father, and the resulting dilemmas, emotions, and lack of emotions.

Max, too, has his emotional concerns as he worries about whether his current quest (for his surrogate father) will cost him his place in Temple's life.

Even Midnight Louie joins the theme, admitting that Midnight Louise is his daughter.

I suppose you could read Cat in a Hot Pink Pursuit as a stand-alone story. The mystery of who is targeting the teen contest and why, and the pursuit of the killer is complex enough and compelling enough to carry the story. But there's also so much emotional punch to this book, and I doubt you'd get the full effect of it without having read the previous books.

This volume in the ongoing Midnight Louie series is a strong novel with compelling characters and a complete plot which is comparable in quality to the preceding novels. Temple gets roped by Molina into playing a teenager in a reality-makeover-pageant show in exchange for leaving Max alone. Molina's daughter Mariah is a younger contestant. Murder and mayhem are present as always. Matt heads to Chicago seeking information on his unknown and supposedly deceased father. Max is sort of on the sidelines, building up to something in a future novel no doubt, dealing with the magician retirees. Louie is helping out Temple and is "reunited" with the Divine Yvette and her sister Solange. The ever-perky Midnight Louise also arrives on the scene. Max lurks around Temple's apartment, reminiscing, and wonders if it's all over. Matt surprises Temple at the end, but you'll have to read it to know what he does.

You will want to read this series in order. (The order is alphabetical by the color in the title - after the first few). You will love Louie & his 'Little Doll" & all their adventures. One of the very best cozy mystery series there is. For more information, check her page - [...]

Once again, Carole Nelson Douglas, has Midnight Louis and his "roommate" Temple Barr in the middle of the action for both conventions in Vegas and murder and romance. The action is all over the board from a stalker for Lt Molina, a proposal for Temple, and lots of pink and purple clothed ladies. A can't miss adventure!!

By chance I found a "Midnight Louie" mystery in a thrift shop...thoroughly enjoyed the book and just had to read more...I got this from Amazon and went on to read more...If you love mysteries and cats..and Las Vegas...this is the author and series for you.